Filing Begins for Winston-Salem City Council Race

Twenty-two candidates have filed to run for Winston-Salem City Council. Samuel Wesley Hudson filed his candidacy to represent the city’s South Ward. Hudson will square off against incumbent Molly Leight in the Democratic primary on Sept. 15. Republican Chuck Woolard filed his candidacy to represent the city’s Southeast Ward. At the moment, Woolard remains unopposed in his bid to secure the Republican nomination in the Southeast Ward. Also, Claudia L. Shivers filed her candidacy to run for the Republican nomination to represent the city’s Northeast Ward, a seat held by Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke for the past 32 years. Mayor Allen Joines remains unopposed in his bid for a third term in office. Republican Matthew Shelton entered the race for his party’s nomination in the Northwest Ward last week. Northwest Ward incumbent councilwoman Wanda Merschel filed her candidacy on July 8. Merschel is seeking a fourth term on the council. Republican Donald T. Shaw filed his candidacy for the Republican nomination to represent the city’s Southwest Ward. Shaw will have at least one opponent in the Sept. 15 Republican primary — attorney Ted Shipley. Dan Besse, the Democratic incumbent, will seek a third term in office. Peter Sorenson and Jim Painter have filed for the Republican nomination to represent the city’s Northwest Ward. City Councilman Robert Clark, a Republican who represents the city’s West Ward, has filed to run for a third term in office. Molly Leight, the Democratic incumbent who represents the South Ward, will seek a second term in office. At the moment, she remains unopposed. Evelyn Terry, the Democratic incumbent who represents the Southeast Ward, will face at least two challengers in the Sept. 15 primary. James Taylor, a 28-year-old juvenile justice counselor, and Jimmie Boyd, a retired police supervisor, have both filed to run for the Democratic nomination in the Southeast Ward. Joycelyn Johnson, the Democratic incumbent in the city’s East Ward, has one challenger so far for her party’s nomination. Donald L. Scales has filed his candidacy for the East Ward seat. The retirement of longtime city council member Nelson Malloy has opened up the race for the North Ward seat. Phillip Carter, Wayne Patterson and DD Adams have filed to run in the Democratic primary. A political veteran, Adams ran for NC House in 1990 but lost to Warren P. Odom by a little more than 100 votes. Adams currently serves as the Democratic Party’s first vice-chair for the 5th Congressional District. John Hopkins is the only Republican to file for the North Ward seat vacated by Malloy’s retirement. Candidate filing closes on Friday at noon. — Keith T. Barber

DD Adams is a candidate in the Democratic primary for the North Ward seat on Winston- Salem City Council. The seat is being vacated by Nelson Malloy. (photo by Keith T. Barber)